“When will the Prime Minister start responding to the issues instead of trying to side-track New Zealanders by attacking the personalities?” Acting Leader of the National Party Wyatt Creech said today.

“I am astounded at the latest “Clark-Attack” against the Race Relations Conciliator for raising legitimate concerns through the select committee process about her Government’s health legislation.

“Similar concerns about the Treaty clause have been raised elsewhere – including by Government officials who have warned of the risks of the clause.

“The Prime Minister’s personal attack on the Race Relations Conciliator is an appalling example of Helen Clark’s inflexible and domineering approach to criticism.

“There’s a whole record of her shooting the messenger - Kit Richards, Richard Poole, the Sunday Star Times Editor, the Employers Federation, The Business Round Table, business in general ….

“The health legislation is the blueprint New Zealanders have as the official Government position on its health reforms. The reality is that the legislation includes a broad Treaty clause, it is the first time such a clause has been in social legislation and it contains considerable risks.

“Every New Zealander has a right to make a submission on legislation before a select committee based on their understanding of the law and Government policy.

“The Race Relations Conciliator’s submissions was a well-thought-through, well- argued and well-researched document.

“One of the major problems is that the Government has bungled its decision-making and communications around the health restructuring.

“The health restructuring has been poorly thought through, there are big gaps in it, and a lot of policy is still outstanding. Instead of trying to divert attention to the personalities, the Prime Minister needs to get hold of the health reforms and rethink them,” Mr Creech said.

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